At first I though I was supposed to make one word using one letter from each row. I think that might be a fun variation, honestly.
Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
141–150 of 273 posts
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#142First off, I love the game. Your mom isn't just placating you. It is fun.
Second, I think given all this advice a real clear example can be seen by looking at NYT's Wordle[0]. Instructions are the first thing you see and cover the puzzle. You then click start.
Importantly, the instructions have an example. While the puzzle is extremely intuitive, an example can eliminate almost any ambiguity (intuitive for most people but maybe not kids, non-native English speakers, or just things like someone shoves the game into their friends face. Who knows). There can be a button on the side to show instructions again, which should cover the puzzle and stop the timer.
> Having a timer (urgency) is usually not a very good idea for thinky games.
There's plenty of "thinky games" that have timers: Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are two good examples. Almost any TV game is timed. I don't think there's a problem with this and the pressure can make it fun while also conveying that it won't take a person all day.
> There’s no point of having a “Play again”
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#143Product manager ex. game designer with a number of puzzle/word game in operation here. - Having a timer (urgency) is usually not a very good idea for thinky games. If you insist on having a timer consider making it count upwards. - Additionally as other commenters mentioned is the game is a time trial it needs an explicit “Start” button. Also stop the timer when user is not playing e.g. reading the rules. - There’s n…
> It’s okay to be US-centric actually, doesn’t matter unless you are very serious about monetizing it, and even then being US-centric will work.
As a European who on a typical day uses/watched/reads more English than my native language, I agree. Except sports teams and other more locally phenomena. Those are the worst.
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#144Product manager ex. game designer with a number of puzzle/word game in operation here. - Having a timer (urgency) is usually not a very good idea for thinky games. If you insist on having a timer consider making it count upwards. - Additionally as other commenters mentioned is the game is a time trial it needs an explicit “Start” button. Also stop the timer when user is not playing e.g. reading the rules. - There’s n…
May be making the countdown optional will be better. I like it!
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#145Nice UI, but I think someone needs to say it: there's no novel concept here, I've seen the exact same game printed in magazines and on kids' menus. If you're trying to catch people's attention, you need a clever gimmick that they haven't seen before.
Yeah, I don't really get it. Five unrelated anagrams? I was expecting something to happen but it's just the anagrams that I did in a fraction of the time given despite not having a clue what sports those teams play, assuming they exist.
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#146Why is "loins" not a valid word? AFAIK it is. I am the maintainer of parolottero, another word game (I made it to be used on plasma-mobile) and finding good word lists is not easy at all. I have a decent one for italian but not for english. Which one are you using?
It's not the name of an americentric sports team, though.
I didn't even notice the category until you said that, and was wondering the same thing.
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#147This was super fun and just played the whole back catalogue.
SPOILER BELOW
Took a few games to notice but one minor issue is that in each game the pattern for each row is the same, e.g 3rd row is 2,4,1,3,5. Randomising this would make it better.
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#148A coworker and my wife and I have recently been really enjoying https://bracket.city which is a crossword-clue inspired word game with daily puzzles. It does take a little while to figure out, I'd recommend starting off asking for hints fairly often to decrease frustration, but after a couple weeks my wife and I are on a streak of 3 days of scoring 100.
Same. I saw a show HN on this a couple weeks ago and have been borderline addicted since.
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#149Product manager ex. game designer with a number of puzzle/word game in operation here. - Having a timer (urgency) is usually not a very good idea for thinky games. If you insist on having a timer consider making it count upwards. - Additionally as other commenters mentioned is the game is a time trial it needs an explicit “Start” button. Also stop the timer when user is not playing e.g. reading the rules. - There’s n…
This is good feedback. Is there a single resource you would recommend for someone somewhat interested in game design?
Re: Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?
#150Love it!